Machine for dispensing semisolid substances



J. E. DUNGAN.

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING SEMISOLID SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, I919.

Patented July 12, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I J. E. DUNGAN'.

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING SEMISOLID SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, I919.

Patented July 12, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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MACHINE FOR DISPENSING SEMISOLID SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATlON FILED NOV. 15. I919.

Patented July 12, 1921.

ill iirll h I. E. DUNGAN.

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING SEMISOLID SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I5, I919.

Patented July 12, 1921.

5 SHEETSSHEET m/mvrbk (/06): 6'- fia Ignimm :1 ITTVS'.

J. E. DUNGAN.

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING SEMISOLID SUBSTANCES.

ATION FIL 15 I9 9 1,384,310, PatentedJuly 12,1921.

55 5 EEEEEEEEEEEE 5.

Joan E. concert, or canrononm: essionoa, er manor AND rensnn Assisi:- means, or SEVEN-SIXTEENTHS TO wan-Ea s. navsoiv, ONE-SIXTEEN'lI-I 'ro enn- JAMIN r. norm, ONE-SIXTEENTH T0 mans 1a. HOWARD, oun-srxrnnnrn TO JAMES A. sermon, ONE-SIXTEENTH 'ro ALLEN o. scnoeems, as... one-sixrnszarn T0 n. J. ZINK, AND ONE-SIXTEENTH T0 EVERETT E. KODNTZ, ALL or MOUNDSVIL'LLE, WEST VIRGINIA.

MACHINE F03, DISPENSING SEMISOLID-SUBSTANGES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 12, 1921.

' Application filed November 15, 1919. Serial No. 338,160.

neath the counter of a soda fountain and so constructed that the ice cream or other substance contained therein is not touched by the hands of the operator.

The objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus of the character referred to which will keep the ice cream or other similar semi-solid substance stored therein, in good condition, and from which the ice cream or other semi-solid substance may be economically and sanitarily dispensed; to retain the ice cream or other semi-solid substance stored therein in a hardened or nearly solid condition and at the same time to provide means for easily handling the same by the dispensing apparatus; and to provide means whereby the ice cream is kept out of contact with the outer air and dispensed from the apparatus without coming into contact with the hands of the operator, and in which the ice and ice cream are kept sealed from the outer air at all times, thus making a great saving in the amount of we used and dispensing with the inconvenience and waste of frequently refilling the tank with ice, and preventing shrinkage of the ice cream.

)ther and more specific objects are to provide an a 'iparatus of this character in w ich the ice cream is dispensed from the container by means of a fluid controlled lunger which-may be automatically operate to dispense a predetermined amountof ice cream, to provide means for automatically cutting oil the fluid pressure when the container is emptied, to provide a temporary or shipping container so constructed that the ice cream may be easily removed therefrom, in a collapsible container, and placed within the container of the dispensing apparatus, to provlde a'circulation of brine around the container and dispensing head by means of a slight fluid pressure; to provide means for automatically lubricating the interior of the container to prevent frost from forming therein; and to generally improve and simpllfy apparatus of this character.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the'novel construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood thatvarious changes in the form, proportions, size ,and minor details of construction. may be made within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

The invention thus set forth 'in general terms is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view through a dispensing machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2+2, Fig. 1.

F ig. 3 is a perspective view of the piping through which the brine is circulated, also showing the fluid pipe and connecting mechanism which operates the plunger.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal view through the receptacle or cylinder from which the ice cream is dispensed.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the valve which automatically controls the cutting off of compressed air to the cylinder when all of the ice cream has been dispensed therefrom.

Fig. '6 is a sectional detail view of the check valves which control the admission of brine to the circulating coils.

Fig. 7 is adetail sectional View of the i cylinder and piston which is operated by preferably substantially back pressure from the dispensing recepta cle and which controls the admission of compressed air to the device. ig. 8 is an end view of the cap and a portion of the dispensing head, parts being broken away for the purpose of illustratidn, Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the cap. I Fig. is a perspective view a? 1:113 dispensing head and cap showing the gage for measuring the amount ice cream to be dispep sed.

. r ig. 11 is a detail per ective view of two of the vanes from the r sing Fig. 12 is a longitudi ial sectional view of the shipping can showin r the collapsible 'container tilled with ice ci oi therein, the can being shown in position filling the container or cylinder of the chine. V

A practical embodime t oi the invention is disclosed in the accomprnying drawings, forming a part of this sper 'ication in which similar numerals oi reicilznce indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. I I

The housing or casing of the machine is rectangular and is tormedof the spaced outer and inner'walls terial 3, such as sheet cork or the like,

1 and 2 respectively, the outer wall being preferablyformed of wood and the inner wall of sheet metal, suitable insulating) maeihg located between the spaced walls, an air s ace 4 being preferably provided between the insulation and the inner wall. With this construction of insulation an efiicient nonconductor of heat is provided, which prevents "the interior of the-device from befill forward end of the casing.

coming warmed by the surrounding atmosphere.

Within the insulated casi is suspended a receptacle or cy inder 5 closed at its rear end, the forward end thereof extending through a suitable opening in the A piston 6 is slidably mounted within the cylinder 5 and provided with the ring roove 7 within which is mounted a heavy elt ring 8, which ring is lubricated with a fine oil, allowing the piston to move freely within the cylinder, the oil from the felt ring also slightly lubricating the walls of the cylinder in order to obviate'any formation of frost upon the interior of the cylinder which might cause dificulty in forcing the ice cream from the cylinder.

' The rear face of the piston is concaved as shown at 9 and a; leather disk 10 is connected and a screw tap portion able source, is admitted throng;

thus formed naeaeie the enlarged portion oi the bore. A leather washer i" is placed over the head 16 threaded plug 13 engages the idol the bore, holding the washer head 16 firmly in place. A chain i9 is connected to the pin 15, the other end. of the chain being connected to valve which controls the exhaust of compressed air from the cyl.inder,the operation cit which will be later described.

- Fluid under pressure, preferably compressed air from a compressor r other suitthe pipe 21,

m being located in Said pipe a valve air pressure it necessary. i-i three way valve 23 is located in the pipe 21, beyond the valve 29 and is arranged to be automatically operated as will be later described to cut oil the admission of air to the coil 24: and allow the compressed air within the cylinder to exhaust through the exhaust port A gage 26 of any usual and well lrnown con-- struction is placed in the pipe 23 for the purpose of registering the amount of air pressure admitted to the coil.

'lhecoil 24 extends around the interior of the casing and then down as shown at 2! and into the rear end of: the cylinder 5 as shown at 28., this pipe extending a short distance into the cylinder and being provided with the serrated inner end 29. With this construction the piston 6 is prevented from being moved into engagement with the rear end of the cylinder, thus allowing room to accommodate the chain 19 while the serrated end 29 of the pipe prevents the piston from entirely closing the inletpipe, thus allowing air to escape through the serrated end oi the pipe against the piston.

it should be understood that the lower portion of the interior of the casin is filled tor the purpose of manual y shutting the Nil casing is thus filled with brine and ice and the lid placed in position thereon the in terior chamber of the casing is insulated against heat and the 0011 24: being passed around through the ice, the compressed air is lowered to the proper temperature before being admitted to the cylinder, thus preventing any melting of the ice cream by contact with thecompressed air.

The valve 20 to which the chain 19 is connected is located in a suitable valve seat 34: prov ded in the end of the pipe 35 and is provided with a valve stem 36 having a head 37 upon its opposite end. A coil spring 38 is l rated around the Valve stem between practicallyillustrated in Fig.

inseam the head 37 and the shoulder 39 formed in the pipe 35, this spring tending to normally hold the valve 20 in the closed position.

The pipe 35 communicates with the cyl-' inder 40 within which is mounted a piston 41 provided with a piston rod 42, the upper end of which is slidably' mounted through a bearing 43 provided upenthe casing. A member 44 is carried upon the piston rod 42 and provided with spaced jaws 45 between which is located the crank 46 of the crank shaft 47, one end of said crank shaft being journaled in a suitable bearing 48 upon the casing, the other end of the crank shaft being operatively connected" to the three way valve 23.

F or the purpose of circulating brine around the cylinder or receptacle from which the ice cream is dispensed the pipe 49 is connected with a suitable pump, the lower end of said pipe extending downward into the lower portion of the interior of the casing and provided with a ball valve 50, the brine being taken in through this valve as will be later described. A short distance above the valve 50, the pipe 51 is connected with the pipe 49 and is provided with a ball valve 52 similar to the valve 50, this pipe 51 being connected to the coils 53 which pass around the receptacle or cylinder. To the opposite end of the coils 53 is connected a pipe 54 which connects with an open hinge valve 55 by means of which the head 56 is hingedly connected to the casing. This dispensing head is best 4 and comprises the inner metal wall 5 and the spaced cork wall 58 between which walls an air space is formed by means of a plurality of vanes 59,

each of which is provided with an inwardly disposed web 60, the webs of alternate planes being cut away at their forward and rear extremities respectively as shown at 61 and 62, thus allowing a complete circulation of brine around the head.

An open hinge valve 63 connects the cap 64 to the dispensing head, forming a hinge joint upon which the cap is pivoted to the head and forming a connection between the spaced walls of the head and the hollow interior of thecap, allowing the brine from the head to circulate through the interior of the cap. The cap is formed of sheet metal 65 covered with sheet cork 66, the interior of the cap being divided into two communicating chambers by means of a central transverse wall 67 the upper end of which terminates at a point spaced from the inner wall of the cap thus allowing the brine to circulate through the cap.

A pipe 68 communicates with the upper Y portion of the interior of the" cap at a point.

where the. brine which has become slightly 'warmed, will enter, a flexible hose 69 being connected to said pipe and leading to the return pipe 70, which is located through the while" the brine which is returned from the circulating system drains downwardly through the discharge pipe 71 and is returned to the interior of the casing. 7,

It will be noted that the warm brine which has passed through the circulating system is returned at a point considerably higher than the point where the brine is drawn into the circulating system thus assuring that the coldest brine, which is necessarily located in the bottom of the casing, is drawn into the circulating system and the warm'b'rine which is returned from the circulating system is discharged at a higher point within the casing.

A pair of spaced cutting blades 75, located at right angles to each other and preferably inwardly curved, are attached to the inner end of the dispensing head, these blades being for the purpose of cutting the column of ice cream as it is forced forwardly into the dispensin head from the receptacle or cylinder. ere the ice cream is in a nearly solid state, such as is preferable for serving, it has been found that by thus cutting the column before it enters the dispensing head the ice cream is more easily forced into the dispensin head.

Attention is cal ed to the peculiar shape of the dispensing head, this particular shape of head having been found by experience to be best adapted for dispensing ice cream in a nearly solid state. The shape of this head might be described as approaching that of the frustum ofa cone the base and apex of which are cut off at angles to each other.

It willbeseen that the loweredge ofthe its hinge.

opened the handle thereon will engage the penned from the machine. Pivoted upon the image 63, which carrles the cap, 18 a out et? blade 78, preferably in the form ofa the two handles may be grasped together by the hand of the operator.

in operating the cap and out ofi to open the same, the :handle ofthe cap is grasped and pulled upwardly swinging the cap upon When the cap has partially handle of the cutgofi blade swinging the out Oh upwardly into the open position. It will be seen that the cap thus opens'ahead of the cut off blade. The twohandles are thus located together when the cap and cut off blade are in the open position, and when it is desired to close the cap the two handles are grasped together by the hand of the operatoriand swung downwardly, the cut off blade thus moving ahead of the cap. As the handle of the cut off blade engages the keeper 80, further downward movement of the cut off blade will be stopped while the handle of the cap may be continued downward to the closed position of the cap.

For the purpose of predetermining the amount of ice cream to be dispensed from the machine at any one time, a gage is provided upon the dispensing head. This gage includes a rod 82 which is carried by the cap 64 and arranged to be rotated upon'its longitudinal axis when the cap and cut off blade are moved. This rod is provided at spaced I pending arm 86 intervals with notches 83 corresponding to the diflerent amounts of ice cream which .may be dispensed, such as a plate, a half pint, pint or quart. A collar 84 is slidablly mountedupon the rod 82 and provided wit a spring pressed button 85 arranged to engage the notches 83. A downwardly deis carried by the collar 84 and provided with an angularly disposed finger 87 which is arranged to be located in the path of the column of ice cream emerging from the dispensing head. It will be seen that as the cap and cutoff blade are swung into the open position the rod 82'will be rotated or rocked swinging the finger 87 upwardlyinto the path of the column of ice cream.

In Fig. 12 is illustrated the carrier or receptacle in which the ice cream is shipped and from whichrit is removed to be placed within the cylinder 5 of the machine. This receptacle is preferably inthe form of an open ended .cylinder 88 provided near its ante lower end with an inwardly disposed downwardly inclined annular flange 89, a removabledisk 90, provided around its periphery with an angularly disposed annular flange 91, forming the bottom of the receptacle. An annular flange exterior of the receptacle at a point spaced a short distance from the upper end thereof. The ice cream is shipped in these receptacles or carriers and kept therein until placed within the cylinder of the dispensing appa ratus, the cream being contained within a collapsible container 93 the upper end thereof being closed as shown at 94 while the lower end is provided with an inturned flange 95.

When it is desired to fill the cylinder 5 of the dispensing apparatus with ice cream, the

fastening devices 96 upon the dispensing head are opened and the dispensing head is swung to one side upon its hinge. The upper 0 en end of the receptacle 88 is then place within the mouth of the cylinder, the annular flange 92 limiting the distance which the carrier is inserted within the cylinder. By placing the hand within the other end-of the carrier and against the dislr 90, the ice cream within the collapsible container 93 may he slid into the cylinder after which the carrier 88 and disk 90 are removed from the dispensin apparatus and the dis pensing head close and fastened. The machine isthen in condition for operation to dispense the ice cream in any desired predetermined quantities.

The cylinder 5 1s suspended within the.

annular pocket and out of the path of the cream, the collapsible container being thus telescoped and forced into this annular pocket.

In the operation of. the dispensing apparatus above decribed, assuming that the cylinder has been filled with ice cream and the interior of the casing filledwith brine and ice, the operator first sets the gage upon the dispensing head for the desired quantity of ice cream to be dispensed. The handle 82 of the cap is then grasped and swung up wardly engaging the handle 7 9 of the cut oil blade, the cut off blade following the cap 1 into the open position allowing the. ice cream to be forced throughthe aperture 77 in the end plate 76 of the dispensing head.

ascents in a rectangular column, by means of the compressed air actuated plunger 6 within the cylinder.

- 'lhe finger 87 being swung upwardly into the path of the column of ice'cream, emerging from the dispensing head, by the opening of the cap, the outer end of the column of ice cream will contact with the finger 87 when the desired predetermined amount of ice cream has been dispensed from the head.

When the operator sees that the desired amount of ice cream has issued'from the dispensing head he immediately closes the cap and cut off blade as above described cutting 0d the column of ice cream which has emerged from the dispening head and allow ing it to drop into the proper receptacle which may be placed beneath the dispensing head to receive the same.

When the last of the ice cream hasbeen dispensed from the cylinder, the air pressure upon the plunger 6 will-take the slack from the chain 19 opening the valve 20 and allowin the compressed air to pass through said valve into thecylinder raising the plunger ll therein and through the rod 42 and jaws rocking the crank shaft 47, op-

crating the three way valve 28 to shutoff the admission of'compressed air to the coils 24.

'When a new container of ice cream is placed within the cylinder the plunger 6 will be forced back through the cylinder to the initial position forcing the air from the cylinder through the pipe 27 and coils 24 and exhausting the same through the exhaust aperture 25 in the three way valve 23.'

After the machine has been filled and the dispensing head closed and fastened the piston rod 42 ispushed down into its normal position operating the three way valve 23 by means of the crank shaft 47 and allowing compressed air to again pass from the pipe 21 to the coils 24: and through the pipe 27 to the cylinder.

It will thus be seen that with my improved dispensing apparatus the ice cream is served from a sealed receptacle without coming into contact with the hands of the operator and Without requiring the opening of the receptacle after the ice cream has been placed therein, until all of the ice cream has been served therefrom. It should also be noted that the operation of the piston within the dispensing cylinder is automatically controlled by the opening or closing of the cut off blade upon the dispensing head. Thus, all that is necessary to dispense ice cream from the apparatus, is to open the cap and cut oil blade and when the desired quantity of ice cream has been dispensed close the cap and cut off blade, it not being necessary for the operator to operate any levers, pedals or other mechanism to startv or stop the machine.

I claim t 1. A machine for dispensing semi-solid substances including a container open at one end, a cut oil plate normally closing the open end of the container and a. fluid pressure operated piston within the container for forcing the contents from the container when the cut off plate is opened.

2. A machine for dispensing semisolid substances including a container open at one end, a cut off plate normally closing the open end of the container and a piston with. in the container for forcing the contents from the container said piston being arranged to be automatically operated when the cut off plate is opened, and to be auto matically stopped by the closing of the cut- 01? plate.

3. A machine for dispensing semisolid substances including an open ended cylinder, a fluid pressure operated piston within the cylinder for forcing the contents from the cylinder, a cut-off plate normally closing the open end of the cylinder and means for admitting a cold fluid to thecylinder, to operate the piston when the cut-off plate is opened. v

4. A machine fordispensing semi-solid substances including a cylinder, a fluid pres sure operated piston for forcing the contents from the cylinder, a cooling coil, and means for admitting fluid under pressure throu h said coil to the cylinder.

5. A machine for dispensing semi-solid substances including a container ,open at one end, a closure therefor, and a plunger within the container for forcing the contents therefrom through said open end, said plunranged to be stopped by the closing of the I closure.

6. A machine for dispensing semi-solid substances including a container provided with a discharge opening, means for forcing the contents of the container through said opening, a cap slidablymovable across said opening and a cut off member slidably movable across the opening, the cut oil member arranged to follow the cap in opening and to precede the capv in closing.

7. A machine for dispensing semi-solid substances including a container, an outwardly tapered, downwardly disposed dispensing head thereon, the outer reduced end of the head being inclined downwardly and rearwardly and provided with a discharge opening, means for closing said opening and means for forcing the contents of the container through the opening when the closing means is opened.

8. A machine for dispensing semi-solid substances including a casing adapted to and open at one end, a dispensing head provided with'spaced walls, located adjacent to said open end, and provided witha discharge opening, a hollow cap normally covering the and communicating with discharge opening,

the head, means for forcing the contents the cylinder throughthe discharge opening when the cap is opened, a 0011 located around the cylinder and connected to the head, a return pipe connecting the cap with the interior of the casing and means-for forcing brine from the casing through the coil, around the head, through the cap and through the return pipe to the casing.

10. A machine'for dispensing frozen substances including a cylinder surrounded by a cooling chamber and provided with a discharge opening, a plunger located in the cylinder and a fibrous lubricating ring located around the periphery of the plunger and adapted to lubricate the interior of the cylinder to prevent frost from forming directly upon the interior walls of the cylinder.

11. A machine for dispensing semi-solid substances including a cylinder, a fluid pressure operated piston for forcing the contents from the cylinder and means for cooling the fluid before it is admitted to the cylinder.

12. A machine for dispensing semi-solid substances including a cylinder surrounded by a cooling chamber, a fluid pressure operated piston for forcing the contents from the cylinder and a fluid pressure pipe leading into and coiled around the interior of the cooling chamber and communicating with the cylinder.

13..A machine for dispensing semi-solid substances including a container open at one end, and adapted. to contain a column of semi-solid substance, a fluid ressure operated piston within the container engaging the inner end of said column, for forcing the same from the container, and a cut-off plate at the open end of the container engaging the outer end of the column, the piston arranged to be automatically operated by the fluid pressure to force the column from the container when the cut-off plate'isopened and to be automatically stopped when the cut-cit plate is closed.

1%. A machine for dispensing frozen substances including a cylinder surrounded by a cooling chamber and provided with dis-v charge opening, a plunger located in the cylinder and means for lubricating the interior of the cylinder to prevent frost from forming thereon.

15. A machine for dispensing semi-solidsubstances including a casing adapted to contain brine, a cylinder located therein and having a discharge opening, a hollow cap covering said opening and means for forcing brine from the casing around said cylinder and through said hollow. cap,

'16. A- machine for dispensing semi-solid substances including a casing adapted to contain brine, a cylinder located therein and provided with a discharge opening, a hollow cap normally. covering the discharge opening, a coil located around the cylinder and communicating with the cap, a return pipe connecting the cap with the interior of the casing and means for forcing brine from the casing through the coil and cap and through the return pipe; I

17. A machine for dispensing. semi-solid substances including a container, a piston therein for forcing the contents from the container, means for admitting fluid pressure to the container to operate thepiston, a valve controlling the fluid pressure, an exhaust pipe connected with the container, a piston within the exhaust pipe, means connected to the last named piston for operating said valve and a normally closed valve within the exhaust pipe arranged to be automatically opened when the container is empty.

18. A machine for dispensing semi-solid substances including a container, a piston.

therein for forcing the contents from-the container, means for admitting fluid pressure to the container to operate the piston, a valve controlling the fluid ressure, an exhaust pipe connected with t e container, a piston within the exhaust pipe, means connected to the last named piston for operating said valve, and a normally closed valve within the exhaust pipe connected to the piston within the container and arranged to.

be automatically opened when said piston within the container reaches the limit of its forward movement.

19. A machine for dispensing semi-solid substancesincludinga cylinder, a fluid pres sure operated piston within the cylinder for forcing the contents from the cylinder,

means for admitting fluid under pressure to the cylinder and means for coolln said fluid before it is admitted to the cyllnder.

20. A machine for dispensing semi-solid substances including a container open at one end, a cut-off plate normally closing the open end of the container and a fluid operated piston within the container for forcing the contents from the container, said piston being arranged to be automaticaliy operated by fluid pressure when the cut-off plate is opened and to be automatically stopped by the closing of the cut-off plate.

21. A machine for dispensing semi-solid substances including a container open at one end, a cut-01f plate normally closing the open end of the container, a fluid pressure operated piston Within the container for forcing the contents from the container when the cut-off plate is opened and means for 10 cooling the fluid before it is admitted to the container.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN E. DUNGAN. 

